Setting up Umbraco for Multi-Language Websites

Setting up Umbraco for Multi-Language Websites

Umbraco is a web content management system well known as one of the simplest and most user-friendly CMS tools utilized for publishing web content. The Umbraco open source CMS version 2.0 was released on FEB 2005 and since that time a lot of enhancements and add-ons have been added.

Umbraco is based on Microsoft .Net technology and is considered as the first open source tool based on Microsoft .Net for web content management. Not surprisingly, it has become the official .NET website for Microsoft asp.net along with more than 100,000 reputable companies using it.

As Umbraco is built on Microsoft .Net Framework, it inherits the localization and internationalization features from it. Also, Umbraco CMS has a specific translator account and workflow that facilitate the process of website translation when interacting with translation agencies.

Setting up Umbraco for Multilanguage Websites and Website Translation

Two main approaches are available to deploy Umbraco for Multilanguage websites:

1- Multiple sites structure: One website per language.

2- 1:1 structure: One website for all languages.

Both solutions have advantages and disadvantages, but for practical purposes the “Multiple sites” approach is widely used over the 1:1 structured approach. The multiple sites solution provides more flexibility as it requires no obligation to translate all content. The administrator can exclude some content based on business need, target audience, local culture, etc.

FIRST STEP: Add the target languages to the CMS

(English US is installed by default)

1- Login as Admin.

2- From Sections Panel select Settings

3- From Settings tree select Languages

4- Right click the languages node and select Create

5- Select the new target language and click Create

6- The language will be then available in the languages node

7- To delete a language select it, right click and press Delete.

SECOND STEP: Duplicate the source website (one new website per target language)

Once the Source website is ready with all the content, duplicating the website for localization is a very simple and easy process:

1- Login as Admin

2- From the Sections panel select Content

3- From the Content tree select the source website

4- Right click the website node and select Copy

5- From the copy pop-up select Content as the root node for the new website and check “Relate copied items to original” to keep track between source and copied website

6- The new website is available now in the content tree

STEP THREE: Set target language for the copied website (same steps to be repeated per website / target language)

1- Select Copied website, right click and select Manage Hostnames

2- In the Manage hostnames popup add domain name and target language. The drop down list shows the currently enabled languages we set before

3- One more configuration step needs to prevent a page links conflict between languages: Open config file named umbracoSettings.config (<installation path>/config/umbracoSettings.config.). Under <requestHandler /> settings section set the <useDomainPrefixes /> value to true

Once the target language is set for a website, by default Umbraco localizes some available items to be in the target language culture such as dates, currencies, and other regionally specific values because as mentioned before, Umbraco is based on Microsoft.NET and inherits its localization features.

By the end of this last step, the Umbraco CMS is multilingual-ready. The second phase will involve how to localize Dynamic and Static content.

Quick reminder notes about setting up Umbraco for multi-language websites:

– Using multiple websites is recommended over using 1:1 structure.

– Umbraco comes with one language installed by default (English US). Any other target language should be set by administrator from Settings section.

– To be able to track the content changes between source and target languages, remember to check Relate copied items to original while copying the source website.

Copied websites are not published until administrator manually changes the status.

Further GPI Resources on Content Management Systems Topics

Globalization Partners International (GPI) frequently assists customers with multilingual website design, development and deployment, and has developed a suite of globalization tools to help you achieve your multilingual website localization project goals. You can explore them under the Translation tools and Portals section of our website. You may also find some of the following articles and links useful:

For more information or help with your next website translation project, please do not hesitate to contact us via e-mail at info@globalizationpartners.com, or by phone at (866) 272-5874, or by requesting a free web translation quote on your next website translation project.

Ahmed Mossad El-Saba

Director: MENA Linguistic Services

Ahmed is a native Arabic speaker from Egypt, Cairo. He has over 15 years’ experience in the translation and localization field working as a Hebrew – Arabic translator and editor. He has held positions as a Language Testing Engineer and Localization Project Manager. Ahmed has extensive experience in handling large volume translation projects for software and document localization. He has worked for a range of translation and localization companies including Microsoft, Babylon, Saudisoft, as well as several governmental authorities.
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He holds a B.A. degree in Translation and Interpreting from Faculty of Alsun Ain Shams University and additionally is a certified Hebrew - Arabic translator with a High Translation professional diploma from the same faculty. He is a published author translating news articles and writing political analysis with contributions to an array of research centers and newspapers including AL Aharam, Beirut Political Centre, Aldiplomasy Magazine, and Lindro Italian News, to name a few.
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In his free time Ahmed likes swimming, shooting and reading about new ideas.